For the first time since 2010 the Greeneville soccer team will not be advancing to the state tournament.
On Tuesday in the Region 1-AA Tournament semifinals the Greene Devils fell to David Crockett 4-2, bringing their season to an end with an 8-12-1 record.
“It’s tough to see the season end like this,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said. “It’s been a while since we’ve not been back to the state tournament. But we told the boys that we win like champions and we lose like champions, and I think they showed that character tonight.”
Lapses on defense early put Greeneville in a hole and ultimately that proved to be the difference in the outcome.
David Crockett took the lead in the fourth minute. Greeneville’s defense passed the ball around in front of its own frame for too long and Carlos Prado stole possession before firing in a shot from the top of the box.
In the 15th minute the lead increased to 2-0. Dawson Callahan sent a pass ahead to the Diego Silva from midfield. Silva broke into the box and Greeneville’s back line could not stay in front of him. The shot came from the top of the box and stuck inside the left post.
“We knew they pressed really hard with all of their people up top, and we knew we had to release the ball early. We just didn’t get the ball out under their pressure. A mistake there early on hurt us, but we kept our heads in the game,” Graham said.
Greeneville kept fighting and was able to close the gap to 2-1 in the 20th minute. The Devils were awarded a penalty kick after Crockett’s Cole Stophel grabbed Sam Gourley’s wrist from behind and yanked him back while in the 18-yard box.
Under normal circumstances grasping a player who is breaking free toward the frame in the box would result in a red card and forced David Crockett to play a man down the rest of the night. No card was issued, not even a yellow. That was the first of a handful of officiating curiosities that went against the Devils
Greeneville was awarded a penalty kick for the foul in the box. Gourley’s free attempt was stopped, but he followed the shot and pounded home his own rebound to cut the lead to 2-1.
Greeneville kept up the attack and in the 37th minute the Greene Devils were able to tie the game at 2-2. On a corner kick Simon Holt sent a low screamer into the box from the left side. When the ball made it to the far post Matthew Lindberg punched it into net.
“I have to give our guys credit, they go down two goals and come back and tie it,” Graham said. “The energy we got from the first goal was big, and I felt like we could turn this game around in the second half. But obviously we weren’t able to do that,” Graham said.
With 51 seconds left another refereeing curiosity allowed the Pioneers to regain the lead. Silva was fouled hard near the top of the 18-yard box. While Greeneville players and the referee were discussing the call Silva rolled the ball to the spot he wanted and took a shot with the ball in motion on the unexpecting defense.
After discussion between officials the set piece not being set, or the official engaging with the defense were not enough to waive off the goal, and the Pioneers went to halftime leading 3-2.
After the goal was approved several Pioneers took off for the sideline to taunt Greeneville’s student section. The assistant referee nearest the incident was busy studying the turf around his shoes instead of watching the action unfold. As the words exchanged became more heated a fan came out of the stands and the game had to be paused while the school’s administration got things sorted.
In the second half Greeneville tried its best to find the equalizer again but could not sink another shot.
In the 57th minute the Devils felt like they had earned a penalty kick when the Pioneers slid under Gourley as he was charging at the frame. Again, no card was issued for taking down a player with an unobstructed look at the frame, and the foul was called outside the box.
With the shadow of the ball on the 18 Gourley’s free kick sailed over the crossbar giving the Pioneers’ a reprieve.
David Crocektt effectively put the game away in the 60th minute as Silva completed his hat trick. On a restart Curtis Malachi sent a long pass to Silva from the right side and Silva got ahead of the defense before firing a shot past keeper Landen Creech.
The loss was Greeneville’s first in the region tournament since 2021 when it lost Sevier County in the region championship game. It also ends the Greene Devils’ season before the state tournament for the first since 2010 when they fell to Alcoa in the state sectionals.
For seniors Simon Holt, Griffin Gricunas, Cole Wilcox and Bryan Gallegos Tuesday brought an end to their careers at Greeneville.
“We lost a lot from last year, and those four seniors have worked hard this year and given us a lot of leadership. I’m thankful for the leadership they gave us in what has been a tough season,” Graham said.
